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News and Awards

Toyota and Lexus Receive 2013 Brand Image Awards

According to the annual Kelley Blue Book (KBB) brand image study, new car shoppers chose Toyota as the Best Overall Truck Brand.  When livelihood is on the line, any brand synonymous with dependability and reliability has a real advantage, KBB editors wrote about Toyota. 

The sixth annual brand award is based on KBB's Market Intelligence Brand Watch Study, which taps into 12,000 shoppers doing their research at KBB.com.  The new-vehicle shoppers chose which brand they perceive as the most outstanding automaker in a number of categories.


AAA Picks Prius and Highlander Among Best Vehicles for Commuters

After test-driving hundreds of vehicles, AAA experts named the Toyota Prius or Prius v and the Toyota Highlander as top picks for commuters, The Wall Street Journal reported.  Prius was selected for its reasonable comfort and is exceptionally efficiency for urban commutes.  AAA said the Highlander's reputation for dependability and long-life make it a top choice for commuters needing size and passenger capacity.

AAA's study focused on several categories based on comfort, performance, fuel economy and other factors that can make driving more pleasant and less costly for commuters.  Since 86 percent of Americans rely on their cars to get to work each day and the average commute takes 25 minutes each way, AAA said having the right vehicle can have a significant effect on one's quality of life.


Scion FR-S Earns IIHS 'Top Safety Pick,' Giving TMS the Most in Auto Industry

The 2013 Scion FR-S rear-wheel-drive sports car has earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's "Top Safety Pick" rating, bringing the company's total of IIHS Top Safety Picks awards to 18, the most of any manufacturer in the industry. 
FR-S comes standard with six airbags, including dual-stage advanced driver- and front-passenger airbags, front-seat-mounted airbags and side-curtain airbags.  Like all Scions, the FR-S features the Star Safety System that includes Traction Control (TRAC), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Brake Assist (BA), an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Smart Stop Technology (SST).

The 18 Toyota, Lexus and Scion models named Top Safety Picks this year are the Toyota Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Prius, Prius c, Prius v, Sienna, Tundra (crew cab), Venza and Yaris (4-door hatchback); Scion tC, xB, xD, and FRS; and Lexus CT 200h, GS and RX.

In its effort to determine crashworthiness ? how well a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash ? the Institute rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal or poor based on performance in high-speed front and side crash tests, a rollover test, plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts.  Top Safety Picks must have good ratings in all four tests.


Jet-Fuelled Toyota Hilux Conquers The Antarctic - News

3.28.2012

Longest expedition in polar exploration history, covering over 70,000 km in four months
Three Hilux set new world record, each covering 9,500 km
Prepared by Icelandic 4x4 conversion specialists Arctic Trucks to tackle the extreme terrain and weather conditions
3.0-litre D-4D diesel engine and gearbox remain unchanged, demonstrating the Hilux's legendary Quality, Durability and Reliability
Land Cruiser celebrates 60th anniversary with first trek to the South Pole The legendary Toyota Hilux, already renowned for its ability to overcome extreme challenges, started a new chapter in the history of polar exploration, covering over 70,000 km across one of the coldest and most hostile environments in the world.

The highlight of the Antarctic programme was a double trans-continental crossing, organised by Extreme World Races. A new world record was set by three Hilux vehicles, including two 6x6 versions, each covering 9,500 km. Totalling nearly 30,000 km this makes it the longest Antarctic journey ever.

From November 2011 to February 2012, a team using ten Toyota Hilux vehicles was charged with setting up a fuel depot, installing a weather station, and providing support to scientific expeditions and a ski race.

To face Antarctica's uniquely extreme driving conditions, with temperatures as low as -50°C, terrain altitudes of over 3,400 m and the most brutal driving environment imaginable, all vehicles were prepared by Icelandic 4x4 conversion specialists Arctic Trucks. Necessary modifications included the integration of a crane to lift heavy equipment, the use of Jet A-1 fuel to cope with the extreme cold, a 280-litre fuel tank (800-litres for 6x6 vehicles), revised suspension and drivetrain, crawler gears and extra large tyres with pressures as low as 2-3 psi (regular Hilux tyres have a pressure of 29 psi) giving a tyre surface area about 17 times larger than those found on standard tyres.

It is a testament to the Hilux's legendary Quality Durability and Reliability (QDR) that its 3.0-litre D-4D diesel engine and the transmission remain entirely unchanged for the expeditions.

The Hilux performed outstandingly well throughout its 70,000 km challenge without technical failures.

Sold in over 135 countries and a global leader in the pick-up segment, the Hilux once again pushes the boundaries of extreme endurance driving.

A video of the Hilux's most recent polar exploration will soon be available on Toyota Europe's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/ToyotaEurope


Toyota Dominates Consumer Reports' Top 10 Picks

The USA Today reported that Toyota is the first brand to earn half of the top 10 spots in nearly a decade in Consumer Reports' 2012 Top Picks.  The redesigned Camry Hybrid and Highlander edged out the competition to become Top Picks in the Family Sedan and Family SUV categories, respectively.  For the 11th time and ninth consecutive year, the Toyota Prius earned the top spot in the Green Car category.  Both records have not been claimed by any other model in the history of the Top Picks.  RAV4 (Small SUV) and Sienna (Family Hauler) are best in their categories.  

"Every year, the competition grows tighter," according to Consumer Reports Automotive Editor Rik Paul.  "In recent years, as many as nine different brands have taken the top spots.  Combined with the improved Camry, Toyota's ability to maintain a competitive lead among hybrids and SUVs is a big factor in its strong presence on this year's list."

Consumer Reports' Top Picks are the best all-around models in their categories, chosen from more than 275 vehicles.


Toyota Motor Corporation Vehicles Dominate J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Vehicle Dependability Study

Eight Toyota Motor Corporation models captured segment awards in the 2012 J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study, a performance equal to all other vehicle brands combined and more than twice as many as the runner-up nameplate.

The study also found Toyota is the highest ranked non-premium nameplate and tied for third place overall. Scion achieves its highest ever position at fifth place, jumping up 17 positions.
  

Additional examples of Toyota's commitment to the highest standards for quality, safety, reliability and retained value include:
      
Toyota and Lexus won 11 awards, more than half the 21 total awards in IntelliChoice.com's Best Overall Values of the Year.

Fifteen Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles were named 2012 "Top Safety Picks" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, more than any other automaker.  The 2012 Toyota and Scion models are:  Toyota Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Prius, Prius V, Sienna, Tundra, Venza, and Yaris; and Scion tC, xB, and xD.

The 2012 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and Scion tC earned five stars for Overall safety from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the highest rating possible.